Hello
Having read your post thought i would reply i have been to Benidorm a few times over the past cpl of years as i have relatives living other there i am off there in 3 weeks time going with my friend she hasnt been in 28 years i think she is going to notice a difference good luck with the photo hunting catherine

Wanderer,

Interesting post and I enjoyed reading it. I went on my first holiday abroad to Benidorm in 1974 aged 20. A young man's dream venue I thought and I wasn't wrong. My mate and I were lucky, we had booked some 2 star Hotel only to be told two weeks before we departed that it was overbooked and they would be putting us up in the Hotel Dalmatas ... well were we impressed, you bet. Full board too ! (whatever happened to that.) Well 25 years later the good lady and I went back for a Easter week 4 years ago and stayed in the Crystal Park. Went on a wander as you would expect and some memories came flooding back but so much had changed. Still had a great time and despite those who knock it it's still got many things to offer for a good holiday.

Wilson

Have found this pic which think was taken in the late 70's/early 80's judging by the colourful Tropicana Gardens, Pelicanos and a glimpse of the Titanic in all it's red and purple glory! (now the Marina).
http://www.pointernet.pds.hu/touristinfo/free_wallpapers/Spain-Benidorm-Costa-Blanca-1.jpg

My first trip was in '73 at the age of 5 (aw!) to the Reymar and the year after to the Riviera (now Ambassadors I and II).

I might raid my mum's loft and retrieve all the photos from the 70's, and perhaps post a few on here.

Benidorm Town Hall displays some very old photos on its website ... click here to have a look.

David

Cheers guys , thanks for the info.

First went to Benidorm in 1970 ,stayed at the Fenicia which had just been built in the old town.There was only the promenades at both the Levante and Poniente with hotels dotted here and there and hardly any buildings behind these.
Went next in 1971 and stayed at the Calypso in the rapidly developing new parts,but still there were hardly any bars in this area and all the nightlife aws in the old town.

Thinking back

70's or 80's it must have been

Stayed in the Ariel Park, then the Dynastic then Calypso

Remember that between the Ambassador *then Reymar/Riveira* to the Square was just fields, nothing there, barely any development

Went to Blinkers Bar (the square behind Pizza Hut) now bank there.

Remember in 92 in Woodys then at Charlie Browns there was a huge storm. The whole of Benidorm blacked out and the rains lashed down. Horrendous weather. Spent the night in the pub by motorcycle light. Left to find a huge number of trees had come down and the streets were mini rivers

It was great!

first went in 1983 with 5 of my friends . stayed at the gala placidia . there was a new hotel being built at the back of the gala placidia at the time . every morning the workmen would wave at us when we went onto our balcony . went back in 2000 , with husband and 3 children . we stayed at the levantelux apts . yes , you guessed it , the levantelux was the block that was getting built all those years earlier . coincidence eh ? been back every year since . love the place .

Its' astounding just how long some of those hotels have been there.

From one generation to another. You can stay in hotels that an entirely different generation enjoyed and not a single thing has probably changed

As much can't be said for Levante though!

I have found all these posts really interesting especially the link to the old photos, as I love to see what the resorts looked like in the past.
We are comparative newcomers as we started going in 1992 when we stayed at the Presidente --we have since stayed at the Orange twice, Castilla twice, Las Dalmatas, Benidorm Plaza and the Marina and we hope to go again in November. We have seen many changes in those 13 years.
Does anyone know of any more sites for old photos please and also can anyone recommend an insurace company for over 70s.
Sue

Hi Sue ... I have replied to your post in the Travel Insurance topic in our General Holiday Enquiries forum. It's best to keep that discussion over there.

David

i broke my benidorm virginity in 1997

stayed in the fiesta park in the old town for 2 weeks

we enjoyed it so much we booked for the same hotel the year after, and had another great 2 weeks

i went for the first time when i was around 12 years old so must of been around cant remember the hotel we stayed in now but it was not ine of the best and i think i remeber a few years later seeing it in the newspaper with some problems with food poisoning!
the second time was when i was around 18 and went with a friend for 2 weeks and satyed in hotel bermudas at the far end of town near the cliffs.
this place was not bad for a 2 star hotel and was fine for us kids!
havent been back for years, think ive been put of with the bad image and the english louts, but maybe its changed?

I remember our first time in Benidorm it was June 2001 and we stayed at the Villa Del Mar in the old town. We loved the place as we could take our daughter into any of the bars. The thing is we never really knew about the Levante end of Benidorm and the following year we booked to stay at the Palm Beach hotel in Levante, just my husband and I went and we had the best holiday of our lives. It was great being able to go and watch an act. We have been to Beni at least once every year since 2001. Last year we went 3 times. We love Beni so much it has put us off trying new places. This year we went to Majorca and we were really dissapointed as we found it quite boring. Every night we were stuck in a karaeoke bar or a bar that had about 3 people in it and there was nothing like Phill the clown for kids. We are off to Benidorm at the end of August and we can't wait. As sad as this sounds I really dont know if we will ever go anywear else( i always said i would never go to the same place twice). We just love the variety that Benidorm offers.

IN 78 i stayed in the Reymar with a friend, what fun 2 17yr olds could have. Remember going to the Talk of the coast and Talk of town (i think) just across the road, San Miquel sure was a liberator in those days.
Went back with the now ex wife a few years later but it wasn't the same for some reason.
Went back after the divorce and it was the same, STRANGE.

I first visited Benidorm in 1988, 3 of us went only because our mate was a rep out there. We would never have gone otherwise, what a mistake that would have been.
We had the time of our lives. We stayed on the 18th floor of the Eva Mar apartments. We were out everynight until 7 am.We started off in a bar called Fartuncles and ended up in Rokerfella's dancing to ska and punk all night.
On the way home we had a curry from Beefy's for our breakfast then spent all day asleep. We didn't go out once during the day. It was like working a night shift.
I actually went on holiday with a tan and came back without one.
Since 1988 I have been 15 times with another 2 already booked. My mates have been at least 10 times each.
I am reluctant to go anywhere else now just in case it does not live up to Benidorm and I would feel I have wasted my holiday.

Hi, my first time was only last year, never been before, and to be honest it wasn't a place I was really bothered about visiting, stayed at Gala Placidia (What a dump - no wonder it was being demolished a month later! but hey- that's another story, and totally off topic!), but we loved it, best holiday entertainment wise, loved it so much we booked again for this august, and can't wait. Just come back from costa del sol (Benalmadena), and it was so boring compared to benidorm. Roll on August. BBB.

I went to Levante Beach in a Sol Hotel (don't remember the name of it) for my 21st birthday with 23 members of my family back in 1990 and had the time of my life!
Unfortunately I've never been back, but if I had, I would have gone to FARTUNCLES on the first night! That place rocked! Does ANYBODY out there remember it? Lennons was over-rated. And over-priced.
I would love to hear from anyone who remembers a night a Fartuncles, and the Millwall songs etc., because I STILL can't watch the footy results without chanting "come on Millwall, Millwall"!

Remember in 92 in Woodys then at Charlie Browns there was a huge storm. The whole of Benidorm blacked out and the rains lashed down. Horrendous weather. Spent the night in the pub by motorcycle light. Left to find a huge number of trees had come down and the streets were mini rivers

I remember that night as well! I must admit I did not think it was as long ago as that, but I do recall walking along the Avda Medeteraneo and looking at all the bright lights of the Tower Blocks. yes it was raining very heavily if I recall when all of a sudden everything was plunged into darkness. Everything went deadly silent. Of course, it was impossible to get a taxi as the rain was so bad they had all been hired already.

But I do remember that night vividly, because, although you may not believe this, I swear its the truth, I recall saying to my parents "Just look at all those lights in all the buildings, would'nt it be strange if they had a power cut now". And within three minutes of me saying that, the lights went out. I'll never forget it.

I think we were staying at the Las Vegas Hotel in Old Town.